Before guidos and real housewives, there was “Popstars,” a WB television hit that would pave the way for the rise of reality TV and the fame of one Dominican singer from New York City. Rosanna “Chana” Tavarez, who was just one project away from completing her studies at Ohio State University, put her education on hold for the chance to audition and join an all-female pop group in the series. Her slender figure, heart-melting smile, and powerful pipes encouraged judges to accept Tavarez as a member of Eden’s Crush, a band that would quickly reach the number one spot on the Billboard charts. Despite having the hit single “Get Over Youself,” the quintet disbanded in 2001. However, former member Nicole Scherzinger wouldn’t be the only sexy singer to break out as a successful solo artist. Tavarez settled in Los Angeles, collaborated with Latin Grammy-nominated producer Martin Chan, and began creating music of her own, including underground favorite “No Me Mandes Flores.” The now 33-year-old rising starlet chats with nocheLatina about life after “Popstars,” making it on her own, and how she stays true to her Dominican roots.
nocheLatina: How did you first get involved with music?
Chana: I’ve actually been singing since I was about four, but in terms of a project, I was in an all-girl pop group and signed to Warner. We were on a reality show called ‘Popstars.’ We toured with N’SYNC and Jessica Simpson, so I got a very commercial taste for performing and being on a reality show, which for that time was pretty novel. There was no ‘American Idol’ back then. But before that whole thing happened, I was doing my Masters in dance. I actually just got off the phone an hour ago with the chair of graduate studies because I need to finish my thesis. I’m also super busy right now trying to get the ball rolling on a lot of different fronts. I feel like I have always been more of an independent artist. I like all kinds of music, especially Latin alternative, although I love Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ and the whole pop thing.
nocheLatina: When it was time to do music on your own, was it a conscious choice to make more Latin alternative beats, rather than the usual pop that fans were already familiar with?
Chana: You see, when I did the whole pop thing, it was like putting a costume on and playing this character so that I can have a really extraordinary experience. When it came down to doing my own project, I knew I had to do it in a way that felt authentic to me. Luckily, I was referred to Martin and we shared the same music sensibilities. We started working together about four years ago now. I just wanted to make something that felt artistically true. It’s easy to do pop music, but I don’t want to do something like top 40 pop. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with pop and I do pop music, but it’s a different kind of pop. I’ve also been working with Tom Russo who previously collaborated with Juanes. He’s an amazing producer and music engineer. I’m just so thankful to be doing my thing. I gave him all the creative freedom in the world because I trust him. I’m doing vocals and having some guys play instruments. That’s kind of where we are right now.
nocheLatina: Going back to your time on the reality show ‘Popstars,’ do you have any regrets from that experience?
Chana: Absolutely not. Imagine that you’re going to do something and it winds up being the most intense, rigorous training you could possibly imagine. In just a year alone, I understood what it was really like to be a commercial top 40 artist. We debuted at number one, appeared on Jay Leno, and never had any sleep. I don’t think most people would have access to something like that so quickly, especially in the first shot. It was like, ‘Hey I’m going to show up on an audition and see what happens,’ and boom, you’re in a pop group and working with David Foster, who also worked with Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. Literally overnight you’re in his Malibu home and recording music…of course I would it again. Was it draining? Absa-freakin-lutely. In that regard, I have a really clear idea of how I would manifest something in myself based from that experience. No, I don’t regret it at all.
nocheLatina: Do you keep in contact with the other girls?
Chana: No…I did for a little bit, but we all went our separate ways. We had an intense experience together and I think we all got really drained from it, so we decided to take our own paths. I know Nicole’s doing phenomenally well with the Pussycat Dolls. As for the other girls I don’t know…there’s always Facebook!
nocheLatina: You call your music ‘trop-electro-hip-hop.’ Who inspired this new genre of Latin music?
Chana: I’m Dominican, so I listen to merengue and salsa, but I’m also loving the Gorillaz and Stereo Lab right now. What drives me first is rhythm. Martin and I take tropical rhythms and arrange them in a really different way, more electronic. I sort of re-imagined what pop can sound like.
nocheLatina: I read that you received a university grant to research Afro-Dominican dance and music in the Dominican Republic. How did that experience impact you as an artist?
Chana: I haven’t been to the Dominican Republic since I was four, so it was a huge experience for me. It’s so important to stay true to your roots and I feel my music does that, especially when I sing in Spanish. It feels very natural to me. However, my roots are also American, I grew up here and I listen to American music. It’s just a product of being bi-cultural.
nocheLatina: I did read somewhere that you were insecure about pursuing music. What were some of the fears that you faced?
Chana: It’s a big undertaking. I think with all the formal training I had in dance, I also realized that music, in many ways, requires the same kind of training. I just jumped that hurdle and took vocal lessons to hone in on whatever skills I had innately, and then I got over it. By doing it, you get better, and that’s it. I think I’ve always liked my voice, but I did benefit from taking lessons and saying, ‘I’m going to perform and see what happens.’ People responded really well to that.
nocheLatina: I remember when you promoted your first EP in Los Angeles. Why is the LA nightlife scene an ideal platform for an aspiring Latin artist?
Chana: I think it really depends on the kind of music you want to do, but there’s a big potential here in Los Angeles for aspiring Latin artists. You can establish an audience here because there’s a huge Latino population, particularly Mexican. You can also easily research all the events happening here and how it can fit with the music you’re making. I was very thankful to have a great crew in helping me with parties and events to maximize my music. LA has a huge music scene. It just makes sense.
nocheLatina: In addition to music and dance, you’ve done a lot of television work, particularly for TV Guide and ‘Idol Tonight.’ Why go back to television?
Chana: I thought it would be another great way to be creative. It definitely allows me to pursue my passions, which are still music and dance. I always think about how something is going to fit and support the other things I’m doing with my life. It’s also just really fun to be part of the entertainment industry and observe people from the other side. I’ve already been through it, so it makes the job a lot easier.
nocheLatina: Talk to us about the current EP you’re working on, and what fans should expect.
Chana: Well, we’re working on a full album now. In terms of the sound, it’s a lot more layered. The production is at another level. We’re working with Tom Russo and it’s definitely going to be something different from what we explored on the EP. I think it’s going to expand upon what we were doing the first time around. We have better resources now, so I’m just excited to see what happens. It’s like we’re in the kitchen cooking and these are the ingredients. I can’t really tell you exactly what’s going to come out, but I can assure you that it’s going to be great.
